Court Remands Six Under Aged IPOB Suspects in Aba Prison

An Aba North Chief Magistrate Court has remanded six under-aged suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at the Aba Prisons, over alleged murder, arson and theft.

In charge No., MAN/ 137C/ 2017, Commissioner of Police vs Emmanuel John and 9 others, the suspects –  Chidiebube Ngozi, 15; Ebuka Sampson, 15; Isaiah Bassey , 15; David Okoro, 15; Ubabuko Tochukwu,15; and OLuebube Okeke,15, – were arraigned on a 10-count charge and were alleged to have committed the offence punishable under sections 516A, 443(1), 451(6) (b), 390(9) , 290 (9), and 427 of the criminal code cap 80 , volume III Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005.

Others who were arraigned include Emmanuel John, 21; Ifeanyi Amobi, 18; Emmanuel Okon, 18 and Chibuike Ugbor, 32.

One of the charges read: “That you, Emmanuel John, Ifeanyi Amobi, Emmanuel Okon, Chidiebube Ngozi, Ebuka Sampson, Isaiah Bassey, David Okoro, Ubabuko Tochukwu and Oluebube Okeke on September 13, 2017 at the Divisional Police headquarters, Ariaria ,Aba in the Aba North magisterial district did unlawfully murder ASP Cyril Nwosu and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 319 (1) of the criminal code cap 80, vol.III Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005.”

Magistrate Ogbonna Adiele ordered the six under aged suspects and four others be remanded in the Aba prison and directed the police to submit the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and adjoined to October 6, 2017, for report on compliance.

In his submission, counsel for the 1st to 9th accused, Charles Onuchukwu, said the court lacked jurisdiction to try the suspects on the alleged offences and urged the court to strike out the matter.

He reminded the court that the 4th to 9th accused are under aged who were ineligible to be remanded in prison.

Prosecuting counsel, Sgt. Hassan Idris Yusuf, had prayed the court to commence trial of the suspects.

It was gathered that the six under aged suspects were rejected by the prison authorities as 18 years is the minimum age for an inmate to be admitted in prison.